I always used to phone up one particular rental car company and get a quote from them, and usually I accepted it. There quotes always seemed to be reasonable.
On this occasion, I had to get a 12 day hire, and I scanned a few websites, and found a competitor to be offering a cheaper price.
So I went back to my usual company, called them up, told them how I always rent with them. Their initial quote was quite a bit more than their competitor, so I told them their rival's quote was about 25% cheaper. Well, actually it was only 20% cheaper, but I exaggerated!
She puts me on hold, whilst she tries different codes on her system. Voila, 30 seconds later, I get a quote which is 30% cheaper than what I would have normally paid!
Moral of the story: If you don't ask, you don't get.
From now on, I will never accept the first quotation that I am offered on rental cars. I hope this post helps others who rent cars.
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The moral is never accept the first price on anything,a long time working in the middle east taught me.
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Me too, I hate paying the asking price for anything.
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I would have agreed with you but I went to the shop yesterday and tried to haggle on the bottle of Coke.
I got asked to leave.
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In the souk in Doha I have had a 10 minute haggle over the price of a kilo of cashew nuts and got the price which was about half what you would pay here reduced by 4 riyals ( about 80p at the time ).
It was good humoured and friendly banter and is expected. There is no reason whatsoever not to haggle on everything. Ask and you shall receive, yes, even in the UK.
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The first time my wife haggled in a high street shop in England I almost died of embarassment.
You could have pushed me over with a feather when she got a discount.
These days I point out what I want, she sends me away because she reckons I'm hopeless and she does the deal. Most certainly I am not allowed to buy cars or anything that big.
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I spent some time in Russia when my x-wife Evil Edna was posted out there by a wealthy ad agency in the early 90s. She would pride herself on how much she could haggle off a taxi ride, getting it right down to just a few pence. Taxis were just regular drivers who would stop for you if you held your hand out because they needed the money.
Then she?d walk off, her purse, bag and pockets bursting with crsip hundred dollar bills. Still makes me shivver.
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That reminds me, I got discounts in both BHs and M&S when buying clothes many years ago.
A coat in Bhs had a button missing, asked at the till, and manager gave £10 off. One shoe from pair in M&S was a bit more worn than the other, so they deducted a fiver.
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One shoe from pair in M&S was a bit more worn than the other, so they deducted a fiver.
I didn't know that M&S sold second hand goods.
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Hotel room rates are also VERY negotiable on the day.
Hotel managers' favourite word is occupancy, and their favourite figure is 100%.
If you turn up at the desk of a 'posh' hotel which isn't full for tonight, and you are willing to negotiate with the receptionist, you can often get a similar rate to a travelodge, with breakfast thrown in.
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I started working overseas about 2 years ago, and use a hire car from Manchester Airport to home in North wales i'VE found a wide range in prices, even within the same company but yes haggle
The best deals seem to with "brokers" over the internet
I can get a basic car like a matiz for 35 pounds plus petrol 1 way 24 hour hire. The journey takes me 1 1/2 hours by car. By train 29 pounds and up to 4 hours. In my opinion the extra is worth every penny!
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I managed to get a 55 reg Mondeo 130bhp TDCi for 27 quid a day all inclusive, one way rental, and that's with the extra damage liability thingy down to only 75 quid in case of accident.
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Haggling applies to many items, not only cars.
Even if you can't get a rental car discount (and I've never paid the asking price) you should be able to get an upgrade.
My other half often gets quite embarrassed if, for instance, we are buying a new carpet and I start haggling, either for a discount for cash and/or underlay and fitting for free - she soon comes round after I usually succeed. If I don't there are plenty of other similar outlets.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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